The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Margins ID Group, Moses Baiden has urged Ghanaians to stop institutions from photocopying their Ghana Cards for transactions, instead, citizens should insist on verification methods prescribed by the National Identification Authority (NIA).
This call to action aims to enhance the security of personal data and ensure the integrity of the national identification system as Ghana advances towards a robust digital economy.
During a visit by the Ministry of Communication and its agencies, Mr. Baiden indicated that improper use of the Ghana Card, such as photocopying or sharing digital copies, can enable criminals to use others’ identities to commit fraud and other crimes.
“Any reproduction of the Ghana Card exposes the card owner to identity theft,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of adhering to NIA guidelines to protect citizens’ identities.”
He explained that the NIA system requires individuals to present themselves and undergo fingerprint verification, which generates an audit code linked to the transaction to ensure high levels of security and authenticity in identity verification.
Mr. Baiden identified the primary challenge in Ghana’s data protection and identification efforts as attitudinal and enforcement issues rather than technology or data collection, therefore urging institutions to thoroughly understand and implement the NIA system to make informed decisions and adopt best practices.
According to him, the NIA system provides a unique identity, crucial in preventing fraud, which often involves duplicating identities stating that “To commit a crime, a criminal must effectively ‘wear a mask,’ either digitally or physically, to undermine public and private resources.”
Mr. Baiden noted that the government views ID verification as a foundational step in creating a more secure society, prioritizing it as essential for building a clean and trustworthy system.
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Source: Comfort Sweety Hayford/ATLFMNEWS
